Hybrid cars such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius use an electric motor alongside their conventional petrol engine. While they’re efficient, they’d be greener still if they had a diesel engine.

Step forward Peugeot, which makes the new 3008 Hybrid4, the world’s first production diesel hybrid. A 163bhp 2.0 HDi engine drives the front wheels, while a 37bhp electric motor sends power to the rears, and this helps keep CO2 emissions down to 99g/km.

Yes, a Prius pumps out even less CO2, but here we’re talking about an SUV with four-wheel drive.

The hybrid 3008 is also by far the nippiest sub-100g/km car on sale, with a 0-62mph time of 8.5sec.

It’s much more than an impressive set of figures, though. In fact, the 3008 is the best hybrid we’ve ever driven. At low speeds it can amble around on electric power alone, while at higher speeds, or when a burst of acceleration is needed, the diesel engine cuts in. Both power sources work together seamlessly.

Diesel engines sometimes suffer from high NOx and particulate emissions, but the 3008 doesn’t trip up here, either. Average fuel economy of 74.0mpg – better than a Toyota Prius – is also extraordinary for an SUV.

The 104g/km 3008 Hybrid4 Limited Edition, with more equipment, is already on sale, but we’d advise waiting until February for the model featured here. Not only is it cheaper to buy, it’s also exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge. Better still, it comes with goodies such as climate and cruise controls.